BLOWIN’ IT: Orioles closer Jim Johnson looks on after Raul Ibanez’s ninth-inning home run to tie the game in last night’s 3-2 Yankees ALDS victory. Photo: N.Y. Post: Charles Wenzelberg

For so much of the season, the Baltimore bullpen was in the category of death and taxes as far as sure bets. Closer Jim Johnson converted a major-league best 51 saves out of 54 chances. Manager Buck Showalter had a seemingly endless laundry list of mix and match options.

Then Johnson showed his human side in Game 1, getting tagged for four earned runs in the ninth inning of a non-save, tie-game situation. He redeemed himself with a Game 2 save. He went for back-to-back saves in Game 3 last night.

He didn’t get it.

“If you had told me before the game the bullpen would come in and not be able to close the door, I would have called you a liar,” right fielder Chris Davis said.

Well, nobody’s pants are on fire because Johnson surrendered a one-out, game-tying homer to Raul Ibanez in the ninth and then Brian Matusz forked over the game-winner in the 12th, again to Ibanez, who drilled another fastball into the seats for a 3-2 Yankees victory and a 2-1 lead in the ALDS.

His relievers also may not have been stunned — bummed would be a better description.

“Obviously, it hurts to know you’re two outs from winning the ball game,” said Johnson, who acknowledged his fastball that was supposed to be down and away was up and caught way too much of the plate. “I missed over the plate and he put a good swing on it. Give him credit. And the second at-bat, it’s on me obviously.”

Johnson, torched in Game 1 for a ninth-inning shot by Russell Martin, lamented his location. If he gets through the ninth, Matusz is not needed. But Johnson failed and so did Matusz, who sounded like Johnson’s echo.

“[Catcher Matt Wieters] called fastball away and I just left the pitch up,” said Matusz, the converted lefty starter. “Ibanez obviously has been swinging the bat well and I just missed my location. He made it hurt.